Christ’s High Priestly Prayer: For Disciples Everywhere in Every Age

“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me. The glory that You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one even as We are one. I in them and You in Me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me. Father, I desire that they, also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see my glory that You have given Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, even though the world does not know You, I know You and these know that You have sent Me. I made known to them Your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which You have loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” -John 17:20-26 (ESV).

This section of the high priestly prayer of Jesus was for disciples everywhere in every age—all who, by receiving the Word would be saved. This means that Jesus prayed for you and me! He included all believers from the time he voiced this prayer on the night He was betrayed through all time since and into the future! Does it not make you feel extremely humbled, yet honored in a reverent way, and filled with gratitude?

Jesus prayed for unity, “that they may all be one.” The vision of believers being one had been expressed in John 10:16 and 11:52. Unity comes when we are in full agreement with the Father and the Son—just as Jesus and the Father were one. How we need this prayer for unity! An ideal unity exists between God the Father and God the Son, and it has been so since before the foundation of the world. This unity is having the same mind, the same purpose, the same love. Jesus prayed that we, too, might have that bond of togetherness. We should seek seriously to attain unity. Church disagreements and relationship problems are contrary to God’s will. The kind of unity Jesus prayed for is that which comes from regeneration and sanctification. When this deep unity exists, the world knows something is different about believers and they are drawn to the Word (the written, taught, preached word, but also Jesus the Word).

Jesus prayed that we would bring glory to the Father. The Christian’s life should always reflect the excellency of God’s glory. The believers were called Christians first at Antioch; this meant that they were “little Christs.” Their lives imitated Christ so much that they were named for Him. We, too, bear his name. Thomas ӓ Kempis wrote “The Imitation of Christ” in the fifteenth century, a devotional book translated and published more than any other book other than the Bible. One of his famous quotations has Jesus inviting: “Follow Me…I am the Way, the Truth, the Life. Without the Way, there is no going; without the Truth, there is no knowing; without Life, there is no living. I am the Way, you are to follow. I am the Truth, you are to believe. I am the Life you are to hope for.” Verse 23 of Jesus’ high priestly prayer for us assures us that the Father loves us as He loves Jesus: “For God so loved the world…” Jesus told Nicodemus when he came to Jesus by night. Continuing to focus on God’s love for every believer, verse 24 anticipates fulfillment as we come into our glory and share Christ’s glory. Someone has noted that the whole purpose of salvation is communicated in this verse. The world does not recognize God and the Son He sent, but disciples know and accept the truth (v. 25). The marvelous message will continue to go forth, and more disciples will enter the kingdom (v. 26). Please reread this prayer of Jesus for you and me, believers. And know, assuredly, that not only did Jesus voice that prayer on the night He was betrayed; but now, on the right hand of God in heaven, in His glory, He continues to make intercession for us! (Hebrews 7:24-25).

Christ’s High Priestly Prayer: He Prays for His Disciples

Read John 17:6-19.

“I have sanctified Your name to the men whom You have given out of the world. They were Yours. You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word…I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours…Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.” -John 17:6, 9, 17-19 (NKJV).

Jesus continues His “High Priestly Prayer” in John 17. He prayed first for Himself in verses 1-5. In verses 6-19 he prayed for His disciples. John, who calls himself “the disciple whom Jesus loved” would have heard this impassioned prayer. Later, under the Holy Spirit’s direction, he wrote it as part of his gospel, and thus we have these words of Jesus, His prayer for his beloved disciples. With the major confusion and catastrophe of Jesus’ impending crucifixion, and the subsequent resurrection, commissioning, and ascension, then the disciples’ regrouping to begin the church of the Living Lord, this prayer becomes immeasurably significant in covering what the disciples will need as they face the calling to which they have been sanctified (set apart).

Jesus prayed that they might be “sanctified.” The basic meaning is to be made holy, to be changed, to be set apart for a special service. And, as a thing or a person set apart, comes the strong idea of standing in awe of someone or some thing. The disciples belonged to Almighty God. They were called out by Him, given to Jesus for special training, set apart for special service. Sanctification is a continuing process. From their initial calling and being set apart, they will continue to be sanctified through the Word. And those sanctified have a special purpose. “As you have sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” Christ could see and know that the mission of the disciples would be one requiring all the consecration they could muster. This high priestly prayer of Christ on their behalf covers the needs of their apostolic (sent out) office. He prays that they will be endowed with divine illumination, wisdom and strength for their assigned work.

Even though the way will be hard for the disciples, and they will need to be fortified and endued with power from the Father, in verse 13 Jesus prays that they will have His joy fulfilled in themselves. This “joy unspeakable and full of glory” is not dependent on circumstances but on relationship. Because of the love of the Father and the Son, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the disciples would know the joy of sanctification (being set apart, holy) for the service whereunto they were called. Jesus prayed that they be kept from ‘the evil one.” He was well aware of temptations they would face, and the need to resist Satan. They are sent into the world, they are not of the world, the world will hate them, but because they are sanctified and have a special calling and purpose, they will, as Jesus, be “Overcomers.” Imagine how many times the disciples in the years to come would remember this prayer of Jesus for them—and see its fulfillment! We read wonderful accounts of their faithfulness, both in scripture and in early church history. Thanks be to God.

Christ’s High Priestly Prayer: He Prays for Himself

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son that Your Son may also glorify You, as You have given him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” –John 17:1-5 (NKJV).

John 17 has been noted by scholars as “The High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus. It took place, most believe on the night of the institution of the Lord’s Supper. Most think He prayed the prayer while the eleven disciples were still with him in the Upper Room. Some think it may have occurred as they walked from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus again prayed. The place where the prayer was voiced by Jesus is not the concern, but the prayer itself is vitally important. In the “High Priestly Prayer,” the priest would offer both a prayer for the people and a sacrifice for them. Jesus Himself was ready to be the sacrifice. He had just said to His disciples: “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). To Him, although He had not yet been through the crucifixion, He knew it would be an accomplished fact soon, and His reason for coming to earth would be fulfilled. This High Priestly Prayer has three major areas of focus. In verses 1-5 Jesus prays for Himself. In verses 6-19 he prays for His current disciples. In verses 20-26 He prays for future disciples, or the Universal Church. Since we have John’s marvelous account of this prayer, we are privileged to have what Jesus the Son prayed to God the Father shortly before He was to be sacrificed as a ransom for sins. The prayer shows that Jesus is victorious; Dr. Warren Wiersbe calls him “The Overcomer.” He is ready for what is to come, completely surrendered to fulfilling His mission.

As He lifted up His eyes to heaven, a common attitude of prayer, Jesus spoke directly and instantaneously to the Father. He thereby demonstrated to His disciples how approachable God the Father is. He addressed the Father, reverently and humbly, but with a deep-felt request: “Glorify Your Son that Your Son may glorify You.” He knows already that the cross is necessary and that it is the means whereby man’s restoration with the Father will be possible. He wants His action even with a shameful death on the cross to glory the Father. The sacrifice He will make will result in eternal life for those who will know the Father through the Son. To “know” carries the idea of understanding and revelation. And the sacrifice of Jesus will make the bridge back to the Father. Remarkably, as Jesus finishes His work on earth, He then will be received back into the glory He knew from the very beginning, before the world was even created!

This High Priestly Prayer of Jesus for Himself reviews for us the majesty of the One who is about to finish the work He came to earth to do when He prayed this prayer. Notable is the emphasis on eternal life which is available to all believers. Eternal life is God’s free gift to all who believe on Jesus the Son. To believe and accept is a person’s choice. But amazingly, Christ is glorified in the divine viewpoint in that God elected to receive us unto Himself, even from the foundation of the world! This truth is so amazing, so divine! Prayerfully quote John 3:16, the verse most memorized and most quoted of all the verses in the Bible, and the one that most nearly helps to explain the deep theology of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer for Himself. Won’t you say John 3:16 now, and thank God for His gift unspeakable and full of glory?

The Helper Promised and Present

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever.” -John 14:16 (NKJV) These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” –John 14: 25-16 (NKJV). “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment…However, when He, the Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth…He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” -John 16:7-8; 13-14 (NKJV).

Jesus knew his earthly time with his disciples was drawing to a close, that his death was imminent. Within the fifth discourse of Jesus given in the Gospel of John, Jesus draws his disciples aside and teaches them many things, reinforcing some He had previously taught, and giving them new promises. In this intimate discourse, Jesus assured the disciples that He was praying to the Father that He would send a Helper to them, One that would be with them forever. This presence was paraclete, the Greek word for “one Who walks beside,” the Comforter, the Helper. This third person of the Trinity has the power to indwell each believer and to make possible spiritual work of the highest magnitude in and through believers. The Spirit will be Teacher, helping the believer to study and understand the Word of God. The Spirit will stir up the gift of remembrance in the believer, so that when words for witnessing or teaching are needed, they will be brought to the mind of the believer. The Spirit will be Convictor, showing the world the condemnation of sin, and stirring those who will respond to turn to righteousness. He will guide believers into truth. But always He will glorify the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Helper is the third person of the Trinity, the Triune God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew that without the Spirit present in believers, they would not be able to function as His followers in a world gone awry with sin. We are to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), worship in the Sprit (Philippians 3:3), and witness in the Sprit (Acts 1:8). These references teach us a very important doctrine about the Holy Spirit. He works through believers in whom He lives. A very important true illustration of the Spirit at work is on the Day of Pentecost when Peter was empowered to preach and over 3,000 people were convicted of sin and accepted the new and glorious Truth of salvation through faith in Christ. One of the main ministries of the Holy Spirit is to enlighten us with God’s Truth. He is Teacher, but He is also Comforter, Helper, and Friend. He empowers us to do the work Jesus left for his followers to do.

“I will not leave you comfortless,” Jesus promised us in John 14:18. That Comforter comes in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. The doctrine of the Trinity is hard to explain and much mystery surrounds it still. Although we can grasp in part the concept of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, one in Three, yet One God, monotheistic, because the persons of the Trinity are in complete harmony working to bring the highest of God’s created order to a restored relationship with God in whose image we are made. May we take time to consider the wonder, majesty and power of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and open anew our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit to convict, to judge, to empower, to comfort and to motivate.

Jesus Heals a Deaf/Mute Man

“Then He returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’ And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.’” – Mark 7:31-37 (ESV).

Jesus healed the deaf/mute man in the region of the Decapolis, which was in a Hellenistic (Greek) area south of the Sea of Galilee. They had already been in the area of Tyre and Sidon along the Mediterranean Sea. Now they are inland, and in the area known as “ten cities,” or Decapolis. The crowd presses upon Jesus. His reputation had followed him. They had heard that wherever He went, He healed all manner of diseases, performed miracles. They brought a man to him who was deaf, and probably because of his deafness he had a speech impediment. This particular miracle is recorded only by Mark. Scholars believe Mark may have selected it in particular to show its unusual character.

Why did Jesus take him aside from the crowd? Can’t you imagine, being deaf, and unable to speak for himself, the poor man was confused? Jesus could have healed him instantaneously, without the two physical administrations of the healing process. But with the condition of the sufferer, private time with the man brought opportunity for Jesus to minister not only to his physical needs but his emotional and spiritual needs. There may be a message here for us: Jesus meets each one of us, privately, at the point of our need. Jesus could have spoken and the man would have been healed. But he made use of signs because the deaf man could not hear. Jesus first put his fingers into the ears that had not heard anything all the years of the man’s life. This showed the man by touch Jesus would break through the obstruction. (Remember the gospel song and its powerful message: “He touched me and made me whole!”) Jesus spat, and rubbed his saliva-covered finger on the man’s mute tongue. With this action, Jesus was employing a known medical practice used in his day by both Jews and Gentiles. This method of healing was recognized by the rabbis.

What does the term ‘Ephphatha’ mean, and what significance did it have in the condition the deaf/mute man suffered? It is an Aramaic word meaning “be opened; be released.” It was a command both to the deaf ears and the mute tongue: ears were opened to hear, tongue was released to speak plainly. But before Jesus uttered this command of healing, He looked to heaven and sighed. Scholars see this sigh from Jesus, as an inward groan, filled with compassion for the plight of the people who had so many needs: physical, emotional and spiritual. He could see beyond the deaf ears and the mute tongue to the deeper needs brought on by the pain, sorrow and sin of the world.

Although Jesus charged the disciples and the crowd not to tell abroad the miracle of healing, they told everyone that He could perform great miracles. The news spread of the Healer’s power. He could make the deaf to hear, the mute to speak! This miracle is a physical representation of what He is able to do spiritually: to open our ears to truth and understanding, our tongues to speak His truth.

A Living Sacrifice for God, or True Dedication

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” –Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV).

What is a living sacrifice? Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome that they should, through the mercy (redeeming love) of God, be willing to present to Him their bodies as a living sacrifice. Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe in his commentary on Romans calls this Paul’s “therefore” of dedication, being totally committed to God. God does not want nor need a dead sacrifice; He wants our bodies as a “living sacrifice.” The spiritual era of offering a lamb or dove for a sacrifice is past; Christ Himself gave His own body as our sacrifice for sin. Now God wants us in total surrender, a living, moving, active, thinking, responsible person, holy (pure and sacred, sanctified), one that can be acceptable to God. This is our “reasonable service” to Him and carries the idea of spiritual worship. Every day, therefore, should find us in service to God, yielded to Him, praising Him, serving Him. Before we turned to the Lord in faith and received His forgiveness, we gave little thought to being holy and acceptable to God. But, in our new relationship with God, our body becomes His temple; He indwells us: “For to me, to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from Godm, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in you body and in your spirit, which are God's.” (I Corinthians 6:19-20). The use of the strong verb “present” carries with it the idea of committing once and for all—as in a marriage ceremony the bride and groom promise to commit themselves from that day forth to each other, so the Christian pledges himself to God.

Then Paul turns in his teaching on the “therefore of dedication” to two more strong verbs. “Donot be conformed to this world.” To be “conformed to” the world is to take on the identity, shape and characteristics of the world; to be no different than those who have worldly ways. To be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” is to undergo a complete change, a metamorphosis. The same Greek word was used for “transfigure” when the disciples Peter, James and John were on the mountain with Jesus and He was changed, transformed, before them and became illuminated with a heavenly glow. Our minds are renewed through Bible study and prayer. An excellent way to begin each day is in the transforming power of God’s presence. Yield to Him and dedicate your body, mind and spirit to Him for His use during that day. In that way, the world cannot put it into its misshapen mold. Yes, you have already yielded that once-for-all time to Him. But just as we need physical food daily to nourish our bodies and sustain good health, so we need a daily transformation of body, mind and will to God’s purposes and plans. Pray to undergo daily this transforming experience.

Peace: Jesus’ Legacy to Believers

“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” –John 14:27 (ESV).

Yesterday we considered “Peace Is Possible” based on the marvelous prophecy of peace of which Isaiah wrote so convincingly in Isaiah 26:3-4. Move forward centuries and see a small group of eleven disciples gathered in an upper room in Jerusalem. Judas had already departed from the group to go to the authorities to make arrangements to betray Jesus. Then in his discourse our Lord gave this amazing declaration—His statement of a legacy of peace. He wanted them to know He was making arrangements to leave His peace with them. This was a fulfillment of the promised peace Isaiah made long ago. Amidst major unrest and trouble Jesus gave the promise. Is it any wonder the disciples puzzled at His words, were concerned by the roiling, belligerent atmosphere of the religious leaders who sought to trap Jesus on every hand? There in that upper room Jesus told them (and us; here I paraphrase): “I have something very important to leave with you. I am going away, ut a new kind of peace will always be with you. It is My peace, and t is a kind of peace that passes all understanding. It will ermeate your hearts, dwell in them, be present with you to dispel ear, give you hope when despair wants to overtake you. My peace I leave with you, give to you. Don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid”

An important aspect of the peace of Jesus is that it is a gift. “My peace I give to you!” How many times in the years to come, after Jesus had returned to the Father, would the disciples have to rely on the gift of peace to see them through persecution? Starting the church of the living Lord was not an easy task in first century Christendom. Neither has it always been easy since then. Its history is paved with the blood of martyrs. Even today, those who oppose the peace that Jesus offers want to put serious restrictions on freedom of religion and the spread of the gospel of peace. We need to hear afresh and anew Jesus’s genuine promise of peace and rejoice in the legacy of peace He left to believers.

The words of the spiritual express this gift:
“I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river,
I’ve got peace like a river in my soul!”

The peace of Jesus surrounds me,
A shield from life’s darkest storms;
His gift embedded in my heart
Gives hope, permeates and warms.

If fears creep in I surely know
That I’m not exercising His gift;
For His peace deep within my heart
Will empower, give purpose, lift.

(EDJ)

Peace is Possible

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trustest in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.” –Isaiah 26:3-4 (KJV).

I use the King James Version for today’s focus scripture because that version is what I used years ago to memorize these verses. They are from the “Song of Isaiah” to be sung to the nation of Judah. They refer to a future time of judgment and restoration. A hostile power (unnamed by Isaiah) will be overthrown and the people will have “perfect peace” because their minds are “stayed” (centered, focused, fastened, kept continually) on Jehovah and their strength is from Him alone.

Our entire world and individuals within it are in a state of discord, upheaval and unrest. We are as Jeremiah the prophet wrote, “For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace: when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 8:11). I hear friends say that they do not listen to the daily news anymore because there is so much crime, war, poverty, distrust and upheaval in our communities, nation and world today they get too depressed just listening to the bad news. Yet we cannot turn deaf ears to conditions and hope they will go away just because we don’t like to hear about them. How can we be involved with needs and pray for ourselves and others unless we are aware? The Word gives us assurance that peace is possible even in times such as we live.

The person will be kept in “perfect peace” whose mind is stayed on God. This indicates that peace is not dependent upon outward circumstances but on a solid inner relationship. It begins first as a vertical connection—person to God. The original Hebrew renders “shalom, shalom” (the word peace written twice) for “perfect peace.” Shalom conveys much more than absence of conflict. It carries the idea of wholeness, quietness of spirit, blessings. It is a sense of fulfillment that comes from God and is dependent upon His presence in the life. Shalom indicates a right relationship with him. “Shalom, shalom” intensifies the meaning to make it, in English, come forth as perfect peace—that which we cannot generate ourselves but which is a gift from God. From Him we receive “every good and every perfect gift” (James 1:17).

To have a mind “stayed” on God is to “Set your mind on what is above, not on what is on the earth.” Someone has aptly observed that we stay our minds on heaven, but we have to live on earth. The equilibrium of mind and perfect peace that God gives the individual prepares the person to handle anxious thoughts and concerns. We focus on Crist and not on crisis; develop dependence on Him, our sure deliverer. And the wonderful reward of this peace-seeking is “everlasting strength.” I like the glorious hymn—both its words and music—entitled “Like a River Glorious.” Frances Havergal (1836-1879) wrote: “Like a river glorious Is God’s perfect peace,/Over all victorious In its bright increase;/Perfect, yet it floweth Fuller every day;/ Perfect, yet it growth, Deeper all the way. Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blessed; Finding as He promised, Perfect peace and rest.” Please reread Isaiah 26:3-4. Then, if you have a hymnal with this beautiful hymn in it, turn to it, read the words—or sing it, giving thanks to God for His “perfect peace.” How wonderful to know that amidst trials, conflicts and far-from-ideal conditions God can give us “perfect peace” in the storms of life!

The Influence of a Godly Grandmother and Mother on Timothy

“When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” –II Timothy 2:5-7 (NKJV). “But as for you, continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” –II Timothy 3:14-15 (NKJV).

Timothy’s mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois are mentioned by name only once in the Bible, in II Timothy 3:14. Luke, in writing the Acts of the Apostles, records the story of Timothy’s call and going with Paul and Silas when they were in Lystra. We read: “And behold, a certain disciple was there, name Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek” (Acts 16:1-3). Timothy and his mother and grandmother were likely converted to Christianity on Paul’s first missionary journey to Lystra. By the time Paul returned on his second missionary journey, Timothy was already an outstanding Christian there. Lois and Eunice were Jews by birth, but Timothy’s father (unnamed) was Greek. That is why Paul thought it best to circumcise Timothy so that no criticism would be forthcoming from Jewish Christians they might meet. Eunice and Lois’s influence on Timothy made such an impact that Paul felt it worthy of noting in the epistle to Timothy.

Family influence can be a strong factor in helping children to become a Christian and to develop in Christ-like graces. Paul commended Timothy that his faith had first lived in his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois. They had prepared Timothy with a solid education in the Jewish Scriptures, had taught him responsibility and trained him in strong character traits. Paul called Timothy his “son in the gospel.” He could trust him to be sent on important missions and assigned him to hard places to assist struggling congregations with problems of doctrine and Christian discipline.

Paul wrote in I Timothy 6:11-12: “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godloiness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (NKJV)

What Paul was telling Timothy (and us) to flee was the love of money. He was to embrace instead the fruits of the Spirit which included godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Timothy had been taught these characteristics from his youth up, both by precept and example, by his mother and grandmother. “I’d rather see a sermon any day than to hear one” is an oft-quoted adage about Christian example. In the home, we learn by seeing a sermon lived out in the lives of godly elders. Timothy had that example. Let us pray that we ourselves can be more like Eunice and Lois.

Phoebe, Woman with a Special Assignment

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.” –Romans 16:1-2 (ESV).

Phoebe’s name means “pure, bright, shining.” The term “servant” that Paul gives to her can mean one who ministers or is a deaconess. The Greek word used is diaconos. She is from the church at Cenchreae, a town which was the eastern port city of the province of Corinth, an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea southwest of Greece. It was on his second missionary journey (about 49-52 AD) that Paul established the church there.

Paul recommends (another meaning can be “introduces”) “our sister Phoebe” to the Romans. Scholars believe that he may have entrusted her with the major job of delivering the scroll, the epistle, Paul had just written to the Romans. If, indeed, as scholars believe, Phoebe had the task of keeping safe and delivering to Rome the precious epistle of Paul to the Roman Christians, what a very special assignment she had! Think of a woman being entrusted as the bearer of the letter from the Apostle Paul to the church at Rome! She must have been counted trustworthy to be assigned such a responsible job. Danger was involved in performing this task. It was not considered safe for women to go either by land or by sea in that day, and to get to Rome from Cenchreae in Corinth (see a Bible map of Paul’s missionary journeys) would take both boat and land travel.

The date of posting of the letter has been set at about 56 A. D. toward the close of Paul’s third missionary journey. He was about to return to Jerusalem to take the offering of alms from the Corinthian churches to the persecuted and suffering Christians in Jerusalem. He wanted to get the letter safely to the believers at Rome. It had a very important message they needed to understand. A very simplified summary of a deeply spiritual epistle shows the subject of Romans to be the meaning and power of the gospel and its message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. It was entrusted to Phoebe, servant, woman, deaconess, patron (“succourer”) of many. She had a major responsibility of getting her precious cargo, the epistle, from Paul to the believers at Rome. Phoebe would probably join a caravan, travel northward into Achaia and Macedonia, board a boat and travel across the narrow portion of the Mediterranean, and then by land again until she reached Rome. Along the way she would have opportunity to witness to those she met and share her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Paul says that Phoebe had been a patron (or succourer) of himself, some believe that he may have fallen ill while in Cenchreae and that Phoebe allowed him to stay in her home and nursed him back to health. We have no proof of this other than the meaning of the words “patron” and “succourer”. Paul also admonishes the Romans that they receive her “as becomes saints.” This strongly suggests she be welcomed as a saintly person, one who can enlighten them on the teachings of the Lord. She is regarded by Paul as one worthy of being accounted among the saints.

We have only this small reference to Phoebe, woman assigned to a special mission. But we know that she was faithful in her assignment because the Epistle to the Romans reached its destination. It also came to us through the preservation, transfer and canonization of the Bible of which the letter to the Romans is an important part. Edith Deen in Allo the Women of the Bible (New York: Harper, 1955, p. 232) says of her: “We can be sure her goodness and sympathy, her loyalty and kindness, and her industry and trustworthiness marked her as a woman whose ministry inspired all who came into her presence.”

We can learn much about faithfulness to our mission from Phoebe, an important letter-carrier of old.

Prayer: In the Fellowship of God

“O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You, my soul thirsts for You, my flesh faints for You, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because Your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; in Your name I will lift up my hands. My soul shall be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise You with joyful lips, when I remember You upon my bed, and meditate on You in the watches of the night, for You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to You, Your right hand upholds me.” -Psalm 63:1-8 (ESV).

I awoke this morning with the words of an old hymn going through my mind:

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Unuttered or expressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.

There are many scriptures I could have chosen for the title of today’s devotional, “Prayer: In Fellowship with God.” I took my Bible concordance and traced several references on prayer, reading how saints of old prayed, and how our Lord went aside often in His earthly ministry to seek God, be refreshed and renewed and enjoy fellowship with the Father. And then I thought I came to a good understanding of why the words of the James Montgomery hymn had been in my mind when I awoke. “Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire.” Sometimes it is unuttered; sometimes it is expressed. Always it is “the motion of a hidden fire that trembles in the breast.” I must admit I was disappointed that I could not find the hymn and its beautiful words in a current hymnbook, and because most of my “old” hymnbooks are still in the “house in the mountains,” I had to go online to satisfy my curiosity about the beautiful words James Montgomery (1771-1854) wrote so long ago and set to the “Camp Meeting” melody harmonized by Robert G. McCutchan.

Psalm 63 is David’s prayer as he was hiding out in the wilderness of Judah, seeking to escape Saul, jealous and vengeful, who wanted the life of the one anointed to be the next king of Israel. Someone has aptly stated that when we have no other way to turn, we turn to God in prayer. Prayer should not be just a “last-ditch effort” for any of us, although God welcomes and hears even our desperate pleas. Even though Psalm 63 is a Psalm of Lamentation, it is still rich in expressing the heart of prayer which is fellowship with God. The one who prays seeks God, thirsts for fellowship with Him, longs to be in His presence, and is rewarded by seeing God and beholding His power and glory. The one who prays embraces God’s love and recognizes it as strong, steadfast, enduring. Fellowship with God satisfies as a needed meal satisfies a hungry body. It is wonderful to remember God when upon one’s bed and to experience the protection of His mighty wings. Prayer develops a special relationship between God and the one who frequently and constantly turns to Him in prayer: “My soul clings to God; God's right hand upholds me!” Christians are very familiar with the Lord’s instructions that we ask in His name (John 14:13-14). James Montgomery ended his wonderful hymn with these words:

“O Thou, by whom we come to God,
The Life, the Truth, the way:
The path of prayer Thyself hast trod;
Lord, teach us how to pray!”

And Jesus did just that! He gave us the Lord’s Prayer. Will you pray it sincerely now?

God Is Very Good at Making Days

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! Because His mercy endures forever.” –Psalm 118:1 (NKJV). “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.” –Genesis 1:3-5 (NKJV). “This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” -Psalm 118:24 (NKJV).

Do you ever try to stretch your imagination and think how it was before God spoke and created day and night, light and darkness, the world and everything in it, the sky, the seas, the firmament, the animals, the birds, the creatures everywhere, and man and woman? From nothing—He created order! With the power of His word! And God has been very good at making days from that time henceforth. At first, calendars were not like we know them today, with 365 days per year except that every fourth year leap year, as this one. But then, man with his ingenuity, and no doubt inspired by God, wrapped the days in countable time called weeks, months, years, decades and centuries. Even the day/night sequence was paced with twenty-four hours, or 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds. Rev. Robert J. Morgan wrote: “God is in the day-making business. The Ancient of Days is the Manufacturer of Days…One new day rolls off God’s assembly line every twenty-four hours, right on schedule, each one unique” (100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2010. p. 165). Just to consider receiving a new day every twenty-four hours is phenomenal!

And then the question comes: How shall we use the new day allotted to us? How shall we fill the gift of today that God is so good at making?

I heard of a widow who was feeling somewhat sorry for herself and her plight as she faced the prospect of days alone after her husband died. Then she was reading her Bible and Psalm 118:24 seemed to leap out at her. She decided that she would use a glass-carving instrument and carve the verse into the panes of the window at which she stood each morning immediately after arising. Seeing the words carved into the glass became a good reminder to her that each day was a brand new gift from God, made especially for her. Why should she feel such self-pity when God had provided so bountifully for her? With the psalmist, she resolved to be glad and rejoice in each day.

A Bible dictionary tells me that rejoice is to feel gladness, to exult and be jubilant, to have a heart that sings. Vivian Green gave us these classic lines about how to rejoice: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s learning how to dance in the rain.”

Here is a song of praise for today that you can sing to “The Old 100th”—Doxology—tune:

Oh, Lord I thank you for today;
Praise for Your guidance on my way.
When nighttime falls may all be well;
At last in Heaven may I dwell. Amen. (EDJ)

How Can we Cast Cares on the Lord?

“Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” –Psalm 55:22 (ESV). “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” –I Peter 5:6-7 (ESV).

We have so many admonitions in Scripture to cast our cares upon the Lord. The two verses cited above urge us to let the Lord bear our burdens. Paul wrote, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV). We probably know these verses, can quote them, or at least know where to find them easily in our Bibles. But how easy is it for us to follow their teachings? How can we truly cast our cares upon the Lord?

Acrostics are a favorite way of mine to make something I should really learn and follow stick in my mind. Let us consider an acrostic for cast, and in particular in casting our burdens upon the Lord:

C – Commit your worries, situation, circumstances into the Lord’s hands. He knows about the situations already, and knows why they have come your way. He knows in advance how you are to be made strong through them. “He will sustaqin you.” “He cares for you.” Herein lie two good reasons for committing circumstances to Him. He has already promised to sustain us, and He definitely cares for us and has our best interests at heart. Commit the situation to God. He can handle it. And do this as humbly, unpretentiously as you possibly can, knowing that He (not yourself) has the answer. Following church Sunday morning, I had a brief moment of prayer with a young Christian lady and we asked the Lord that she commit her concerns fully to the Lord, trusting that He already knows the solution and is providing a way to work it out for good (Romans 8:28).

A – Ask God for His guidance, strength and understanding. Claim His promises that this is what should be done: “Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7).
S – Surrender the situation to God’s will. “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34).
T – Trust Him. Don’t take your burdens to Him and then take them upon yourself again. Really believe Romans 8:28: “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” (ESV). Following church on Sunday night, I was able to talk to a fine young Christian man who hopes to transition soon from “a job” (honorable though it is) to a Christian career, and so far no openings have come. We agreed to continue to pray, to cast the burden upon the Lord, and in particular to trust Him. Commit, ask, surrender, trust; these are four positive actions toward victorious Christian living as we cast our cares upon the Lord.

A Promise of Escape

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” –I Corinthians 10:13 (NEV).

Paul was talking about temptation that came to Christians and how God promises to provide a way of escape. Some translations render this “No trial has overtaken you…” Whether we consider this temptation—enticement toward evil; or trial—tests and difficulties, God promises a means of escape for dealing with the situation.

In James 1:14 we read: “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed.”

Within the context of the selected verse for today’s meditation, Paul wrote of himself” “But I discipline my body, and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (I Cor. 9;27). Even a seasoned Christian and minister like Paul feared temptation. But he knew assuredly that God would provide a “way of escape,” so that the Christian need not succumb to sin.

The Greek word for escape was the word used to mean a passageway out of a canyon. It carried the meaning of going too far into a ravine, and thinking the path out was lost; but suddenly one showed itself, maybe one used by animals. And with care, one could escape from the canyon.

Our best escape route, whether we consider our challenge a temptation to sin or a trial very hard to bear, is to stay close to the Lord in our daily walk. We do this by Bible study and prayer and by practicing Christian disciplines.

Rev. J. Wilbur Chapman, a noted minister of another generation, wrote: “Temptation is the tempter looking through the keyhole into the room where you’re living. Sin is you drawing back the bolt and making it possible for him to enter.” Similar to the quotation by Rev. Chapman is this one by an anonymous observer: “When Satan knocks at the door of my heart, I ask Jesus to answer the door.” The obvious escape is not to draw back the bolt when the tempter wants to enter your life. God wants to “deliver us from evil,” as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer.

He has promised to provide us with a way of escape. Our responsibility is to find the route He provides. He will definitely be on it with us.

Jesus Teaches on the Commandments

Then one of the scribes came and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment. And the second like it is this, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these’ –Mark 12:28-31 (NKJV).

The Jews had made the commandments burdensome to the people by adding to and explaining with such detail and strictures the commandments of God that hardly anyone could live life without infringing upon some man-made rule that brought penalties or condemnation. A scribe, one who wrote out all the details of the Jewish laws, came to ask Jesus an important and troubling question: ‘Which is the greatest commandment of all?’

Jesus got immediately to the heart of the matter. If we can learn the two major relationships in life—with God and with man—then all other aspects of life will be in perspective. Know who God is. He is supreme. He is the One and only true God. Love God with your whole being: heart, soul, mind, strength. This four-fold area of a person was vital: the heart—the center of one’s being, and includes understanding, decision-making, motivation; the soul—refers to the self, the seat of the personality, (psyche) and also that which is immortal, never-dying about the person; the mind—the seat of thinking, understanding and learning; and the strength—the physical make-up of a person, power, might, ability to withstand. These four aspects made up the whole person. When one loves God in all areas of his life—heart, soul, mind and strength—then the second commandment would come with relative ease: “Love your neighbor as thyself.”

Jesus, getting to the heart of man’s motivations, knew that a right relationship with God would pave the way for a right relationship with man. In speaking to those who spent much time arguing about and delving deeply into the commandments of God, He quickly got to the heart of both spiritual and social relationships: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love and treat your neighbor as you yourself would want to be treated.

Scholars view this question to Jesus from the scribe as being an honest seeking-for-information instead of an intention to trap Jesus as the Jews so often wanted to do. The scribe responded to Jesus’s answer: “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole lburnt offerings and sacrifices. ' So when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' And after that no one dared question Him.” (Mark 12:32-34, NKJV). May we do some serious soul-searching. How is our love for God? Is He in first place in our life? Do we love Him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? This relationship must be settled first. Then, we can love our neighbor. With the love of God in our heart, it overflows to others.

A Mighty Refrain: “For His Mercy Endures Forever”

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever.” –Psalm 136:1-3 (NKJV) [Read Psalm 136]

Psalm 136 is a paean of praise to God with a repeated refrain at the end of each of its twenty-six verses. Known as the great “Hallel” or praise or Hallelujah Psalm, it expresses exuberance that overflows with fervor from the worshiper who recognizes with both awe and gratitude that mercy comes forever from the Lord God.

Mercy is a word with deep meaning for our religious experience. Used as it is by the Psalmist in Psalm 136, it means the undeserved favor of God, extending kindness, favor and forgiveness to those who do not deserve it. In an exercise of remembering God’s favor through many events, including the very creation itself, the Israelites sojourn in Egypt and their deliverance, their battles to win the Promised Land, and even to the Psalmist himself and his personal, lowly estate, the Lord’s mercy has endured through all.

This Psalm is a reminder to us that we, too, should take time to make an inventory, a list of the blessings that have come to us, undeserved, from the merciful hand of God. Where would we begin? Could we ever finish the list? Of course it would be impossible to list all the benefits from God’s mercy. But even our incomplete list would show a heart of gratitude, one like that of the Psalmist that bursts forth in a mighty refrain: “For His mercy endures forever!”

In the light of New Testament teachings and the compassion (mercy) of God as demonstrated in the life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have an even deeper understanding of the extent of God’s mercy.

His mercy was always one of the weightier matters of the law (Matthew 23:23), something His people should have been practicing all along, but many times failed to do. Salvation is not by works but “according to God's own mercy” (Titus 3:5). We are admonished to draw near to God that we may “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

God is merciful to us. The Psalmist had a wonderful idea of expressing “His mercy endures forever,” with his listing of many blessings. We need an acute awareness of God’s mercy, as our Doxology expresses, and “praise God from Whom all blessings flow!” Since God is merciful, and His mercy endures forever, He expects merciful action to others on the part of His followers. esus gave us the parable of the Good Samaritan to teach us the value of practicing mercy, and to show us that as we progress through life there are those who need our help and our merciful attention.

After reading and studying Psalm 136, may we be more aware of God’s mercy and of expressing gratitude for God’s undeserved favor—His mercy that endures forever.

Elisha, God Is Salvation

“So he (Elijah) departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, ‘Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you’ And he said to him, ‘Go back again, for what have I done to you?’ And he returned form following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.” I Kings 19: 19-21 (ESV).

Elijah the prophet was growing old. The Lord had instructed him to go and anoint Elisha, the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as his successor. Elisha was in the field, plowing oxen, “with twelve oxen”—so he must have been a farmer of some means, with servants handling some of the yokes of oxen while he himself plowed one yoke. Elisha received Elijah’s cloak as a sign of his being set apart as a prophet of God. He asked Elijah to allow him to bid his parents farewell, but
Elijah, wanting no half-hearted service, asked, “What have I done to you?” This reminds us of the Lord who told those who would follow Him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62, ESV). Elisha sacrificed a yoke of the oxen, boiled the flesh, and gave to the people to eat. This act of Elisha’s was his first recorded religious ceremony after he was singled out by Elijah to be his prophetic successor.

Elisha began his prophetic ministry in the last years of King Ahab’s rule (about 850 B. C.) and served through Jehoram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash. Elisha asked Elijah, his mentor, for “a double portion of your spirit” (2 Kings 2:9). Elijah told the younger prophet that if he saw him “go up” he would indeed inherit a double portion. Elijah was there observing when the miraculous whirlwind received Elijah into heaven. A double portion was, by Hebrew law, awarded to the eldest son. Of the fifty sons of the prophets who were with Elijah and Elisha at the Jordan River when Elijah’s cloak parted the waters, it was Elisha who crossed over with him and saw Elijah translated into heaven in the whirlwind. Elisha received the double portion of blessings—twice as much as any of the other “sons of the prophet” (in the school of prophets) in the group.

Elisha’s ministry was one of power and miracles. Several of the miracles were a foretaste of the miracles performed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Elisha increased the widow’s supply of oil and saved her sons from being sold into slavery. He increased the food supply and fed a hundred men on a small amount of food. He made a poisonous food safe. He supplied enough water for a thirsty army to drink. He made an iron axe head float. He raised the Shunamite woman’s son when he died while working in the field. He healed Naaman from leprosy. The Syrian soldiers were made blind then their sight restored again. Even after Elisha died, when he was in his grave, a dead man was thrown onto Elisha and the dead man was revived. He was a prophet, a miracle worker, a statesman. His name means “God is salvation,” and his life was a demonstration of God working in miraculous ways to show the nation that God was indeed the powerful God Whom the nation needed to heed and follow. We may not see the miracles today such as Elisha performed in “the double portion of the spirit” he received. But God who brings us salvation stands ready to demonstrate His power to those who believe and follow.

Scripture on Its Way to Us

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” –II Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV).

The Word of God is “God breathed.” Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, inspired men wrote at God’s direction so that persons might have the very Word of God Himself for the purposes of doctrine (belief), reproof (chastisement), correction (righting), instruction in righteousness (direction to go). This four-fold purpose of the scripture is that the man of God (believer, Christian) may be led to do good works. The Bible is at the same time our instruction book of how to be and how to do, how to order life according to God’s principles and how to live life according to God’s directives. Paul knew how important these concepts were for the young preacher Timothy to know and practice, and he instructed him to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (I Timothy 4:2-4, KJV).

Yesterday some friends and I had a wonderful experience. We traveled to Atlanta to view “Passages,” an interactive Bible display that is currently set up for public view in a section of Perimeter Mall. “Passages” is described as a “fascinating story that spans over 2,000 years…with expert commentary on the artifacts by some of the world’s leading scholars.” (Passages brochure). It is in celebration of the 400th year (in 2011) since the translation of the King James Version of the Bible in 1611, and in honor of the men (and women) who lost their lives because they stood up for their beliefs that the Bible should be made available to all people in the language of the people. Even though I had studied the history of how the Bible came to us, and had a deep appreciation of the price people throughout history have paid to bring God’s Word to us, I will not again take for granted the privilege of reading and studying God’s Word. From efforts of the ancient scribes of Old Testament days to those who, amidst great persecution and loss of lives persisted in translating and transcribing the Word of God, it has come to us at a great cost in dedication and lives lost. The Passages museum collection will be on display in Atlanta at Perimeter Mall through mid-May 2012. I recommend that you visit it if you can; plan to spend several hours there, because it is not a quick-through exhibit. Serious viewers will certainly come away with a deeper appreciation of God’s Word, Scripture, and how it came to us. You will see a reproduction of the Gutenberg printing press on which Johannes Gutenberg and six assistants took two years of very hard work to produce the first Bible printed on moveable press and completed in 1454 in Germany. The Bible became more available in English in 1611 with the King James edition, although noble efforts by Caedmon, John Wycliffe, John Purvey (the Lollard’s Bible), and William Tyndale had produced portions or all of the scriptures in English prior to 1611.

We can truly appreciate the “God-breathed, God-inspired” writers of the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, who at the instruction of God wrote the Bible in its original languages. Added to that noble company of Holy Spirit-inspired writers is a host of others through centuries who, with singleness of purpose and with God-inspired determination faced great odds, even loss of life, to give us the Bible in our own language. The efforts are still moving forward today as linguists work diligently to translate the Bible. Religion, society, culture, archaeology, science and technology have all played important roles in preserving and transferring the Bible. Scholar G. S. Wegener wrote of the Bible: “it has passed through all the stages of man’s achievements and come out unscathed and full of life. And always will be, till the end of the world.” (Wegener, G. S., 6,000 Years of the Bible. New York: Harper, 1958. p. 340). Thank God for His Word and for the great price paid by many to bring it to us intact. Truly we can say with deep thanksgiving, ”Thy Word is a lalmp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Time in Perspective

“But I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God;’ my times are in Your hand.” –Psalm 31:14-15a (ESV). “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” – Ephesians 5:13-14 (ESV).

Twice per year under our Daylight Savings Time method of chronicling time, we must get used to “losing” an hour the second Sunday in March and “gaining” an hour the first Sunday in November each year. This twice-per year time change poses some problems for getting used to a new schedule for sleeping, waking and feeling adequately rested until we adjust again to the clock. We are just now in that “spring forward” period adjusting to setting our clocks ahead an hour. We “lost” an hour and its loss has left our bodies sleep-deprived and tired. We might be prone to complain of these adjustments to time, concerned about our inabilities to get used to the new schedule. We might even contend that those who make the rules about Daylight Savings Time have ignored God’s Word in Psalm 31:14: “My times are in Your hand.”

Two Greek words are used to denote time. Chronos registers chronological time, a “space of time”—whether short or long. Kairos denotes a season or an opportune time, or even a significant event in salvation history. The most significant of these which has already happened was in “the fullness of time” when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judaea. One yet to come, promised but unfulfilled, is the kairos—the time of the Second Coming of Christ for which we are to watch diligently and keep the faith until that significant event occurs: “to keep the commandment unstrained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will display at the proper time…” (I Timothy 6:14-15, ESV).

Paul had excellent advice for us on how to use our time. In Ephesians 5:13-14, he admonished Christians to “look carefully how you walk” and to ‘make the best use of time.” We who are familiar with the King James Version probably remember well that rendering of these familiar verses: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” In a devotional at an encampment for our youth at Epworth during the time my husband was pastor of First Baptist Church there, we were teaching on the very serious and probative subject of “Jesus Is Lord.” These verses came under the important point of “Jesus Is Lord of My Time.” Walk—your manner of life—circumspectly (with care and diligence, wisely)—redeeming the time (making every opportunity to use your time well). And the reason for “redeeming” the time? The days are evil. Even with all diligence to good use of our time, we will be tempted to pander and waste it for that which is not beneficial, holy and God-honoring. It may not be too late for us to “redeem the time,” and to remember with all diligence that “my times are in God's hands.”

Who Can Measure God’s Compassion?

“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.” –Micah 7:18-20 (ESV).

Who can measure God’s compassion? Of course the answer to the question is that God’s compassion is limitless, His mercy is unfathomable, and His patience is boundless. But, knowing this, we His people should not expect favors when we know to do right and still keep going astray.

Micah lived and prophesied in the eighth century BC. His prophecies were directed against Samaria, capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and against Jerusalem, capital of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Historically, the Assyrians had begun to be the dominant power in the ancient Near East about 740 BC. Micah warns of God’s judgment because of idolatry, leaving the one true God for idols worshiped in “high places,” shrines scattered in many groves. Some of the blatant sins Micah condemned were religious infidelity, economic injustice, false preaching, and self-serving leaders. Is it that the evils and rebellion of any age paint the same grim picture? Reading Micah reminds one of our current dilemmas, with terrorism, injustice and rebellion against what is right and good. Is there any hope for gaining God’s forgiveness? Is His heart of compassion still beating for such a depraved people as our fallen nation?

Far be it from us to follow the practice of continuing in sin so that God’s grace and compassion can be expanded. That seemed to be the reasoning of some in the early church era when Paul had to reprimand them, asking them these rhetorical questions: “What shall we say then? Are we to continuie in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2, ESV). Likewise, back in the eighth century, Micah strongly pointed out the heinous sins of the people. They were not to think that because God was in the business of forgiveness that they could continue in sin. They could not merely say, “Is not the KLord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.” (Micah 3:11b). There is a means of dealing with the coming judgment. It is called a turning-back-to-God. Micah recommended strongly that “they beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not life us sword against nationk, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Micah 4:3, ESV). Indeed, who is a God like our God? When His people turn again to Him, He is compassionate and delights in steadfast love. Scott Langston, in commenting on Micah 7:18-20, wrote: “The incomparable God of patience, mercy, compassion and faithfulness will forgive and renew His people” (“Micah,” Holman Bible Dictionary, 1991, p. 959).

To experience again the measureless compassion and forgiveness of God, may we, like the old Shaker song implores, “Turn, turn…so we’ll come out right.” That is God’s plan for us, and His compassion is large enough to forgive us and restore us. Let us pray for our individual turning, for our church and community’s turning, for our nation’s turning. God stands ready with compassion, but we must return to Him.

We Are His Sheep

“Know that the Lord, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His. We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.”-Psalm 100:3 (ESV). “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” –Isaiah 53:6 (ESV) “To Him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him , for they know His voice.” –John 10:3-4 (ESV). "My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” –John 10: 27-28 (ESV).

Jesus called us His sheep. He told us He himself is the Shepherd of the sheep. How are we to understand and accept these concepts? First of all, we need to rid ourselves of some non-constructive ideas about sheep. We think of sheep as not having much intelligence, of being dumb animals. They can’t easily find their own food but must be led to green pastures by the shepherd. When lost, they cannot find their way home without help. They are subject to many predators and can hardly defend themselves. Overall, is it a compliment, then, to be called a sheep?

We must realize that some of the negative characteristics of sheep can also be turned to a positive as it relates to the symbolic relationship of the Christian and the Lord—or sheep and their Shepherd. Since sheep are helpless animals, they learn to depend on the shepherd for their needs. And a good shepherd will look to the needs of his flock, day and night. When we think about it, we are as lost sheep wandering in the wilderness of life. We are clueless and helpless without the Shepherd’s voice and guidance. “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me” so we learn in Psalm 23:4b.

When I was a child, I was around sheep and learned to know their nature. Each morning the weather was clement enough, my job was to take the sheep from the sheepfold where they were sheltered along the pathway out to the pasture where they were to graze during the daytime. I can still hear their bleats as they followed me. I didn’t drive them like I did the cows, that could find their pasture with my walking behind. But the sheep needed me to go ahead, to lead the way. Oftentimes during the day, when I was not in school, my task was to go check on the sheep to see if they had made it to water, and had found a greener spot to graze farther along. They were not good at finding their own sustenance, water or shade. When I went for them in the evenings, they seemed glad to see me and to follow me to their fold. Those sheep had a complete trust in me and other members of my household who took care of them. They depended on us and rallied when they heard our voice. Just such a trust is expected in the relationship Christ has with us. We can rely on Him for what we need. Because we go astray like sheep, the Lord rescues us. Because we hunger like sheep, the Lord feeds us from His Word. But the most important aspect of the relationship in Shepherd to sheep is that He knows each one of us by name and He provides a haven, a place of rest—both in this world and the next. We don’t have to worry about sheepfold, provision, or protection when we are under the Shepherd’s care. Take time to consider the beauty and solace of sheep/Shepherd relationship. Thank Him that you are His sheep safely in His pasture.

What Does the Lord Require?

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” –Micah 6:8 (NKJV).

Could we ever hope to be so succinct in word choice and powerful statement that we could summarize the requirements of the Lord God for his people in one sentence?

Read Micah 6:8. Micah, a prophet who lived, prophesied and wrote in the eighth century B. C., did an admirable job of concisely stating man’s responsibilities and manner of life. His work and ministry spanned parts of the reigns of three kings of Judah—Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. This cryptic message from Micah is set amidst the context of his preaching against idolatry, speaking against sacrifices offered without a change of heart, and the short measures, cheating and violence that characterized their daily lives. Is it any wonder that Micah would appeal strongly to people to follow justice, mercy and humility?

I often wonder what the prophets like Micah of old would say if they could enter our day and ways of life and preach against the conditions that exist now? I’m sure their listing of sins would
encompass even stronger reprimands than we find in his prophetic message delivered then. No doubt, like his message in the eighth century, Micah would still pinpoint the fallacies of God’s people as they live out selfish and sinful lives incognizant of the impending judgment of God upon them. Micah’s message would not be changed because it was then and remains what God would have His people hear. Listen to the warning Micah sounded: “Yet the land shall be desolate because of those who dwell in it, and for the fruit of their deeds” (Micah 7:13). Dr. Robert G. Lee (1886-1996), a powerful preacher of the last century, had a sermon he entitled “Pay Day Some Day.” Like Micah in his prophecy, Dr. Lee sounded forth with mighty conviction the penalties for man’s rebellion and disobedience to God, using the story of King Ahab coveting Naboth’s vineyard, the king’s wife Jezebel arranging for Naboth’s death, Elijah’s warning, and the eventual terrible punishment for the sin fed by covetousness. I heard Dr. Lee deliver the sermon at a Baptist Convention my husband and I attended and also at Ridgecrest (NC) Baptist Retreat Center when we were young to the ministry. You can be assured we listened to Dr. Lee’s sermon with fear and trembling and prayed for mercy. Persons can still listen to Dr. Lee on U-Tube at www.tlogical.net/biorglee.

The three major requirements God makes to set things right between His erring children and His righteous judgment are clearly delineated by Micah:

(1) To do justly;

(2) To love mercy; and

(3) To walk humbly with your God.

These seem on the surface to be rather simple to remember and to do. But behind putting these tenets into action in living out our daily life must be a genuine commitment and determination. Involved is a prayerful life, a steadfast weighing of the situation and choosing righteousness, and a recognition that the individual is not strong enough on his/her own spiritual strength to do it alone. It takes daily succor from the Lord. But, if we are repentant and seek his love and mercy, as shown in Micah, we can end up on a victorious note: “He does not retain His anger forever, because He deloights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, land will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn to our fathers from days of old.” (Micah 7:18b-20, NKJV). Thanks be to God!

Laying Up Treasure

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” –Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV).

What do you treasure? Where are you laying away treasures? What consumes your time in amassing treasure and making sure it is safe from theft, loss or diminishing returns?

Why are we considering a devotional on treasure? Defined treasure is that which one values, whether it be silver, gold, possessions, houses and lands, any sort of wealth or something more intangible that is held dear. We consider treasure because Jesus made a very cogent statement about it: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” He always went directly to the heart of our human situation, pinpointing an area needing attention. For those who have undue stress over or covetousness for wealth, He is able to cut to the quick and offer workable solutions.

He told us to “lay up treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Did he give us clues in the Sermon on the Mount, within which context His discourse on treasures lies, about how to lay up heavenly treasure? He said we are to give alms (Mt. 6:2), pray (Mt. 6:5), fast (Mt. 6:16) and seek to please God and be content (Mt. 6:6). Not only are we to follow these spiritual disciplines but we are to use any wealth we may have not for selfish purposes but for God’s glory, and not wealth only but we are to use talents and opportunities for the good of others. We furthermore refuse to be filled with anxiety: “Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Mt. 6:32b-33). Additional instruction about the Christian’s attitude toward wealth is found in I Timothy 6:10 and following: “For the love of money is the root of aqll kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love patience and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses…Let them do good, that they may be rick in go9od works, reaqdy to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (I Timothy 6:10-12, 18-19 (NKJV). And within these instructive verses in Matthew and I Timothy, we have the foundational teachings we need to help us know how to lay up treasures in heaven. Let us pray that we will be obedient, make right personal choices and show the diligence that will help us to become rich in heavenly treasures.

The Doxology by Jude

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude, verses 25-26 (ESV).

In his short epistle, Jude deals with the serious problem of apostasy in the churches. False teachers had defiled the church, the body of Christ. Amidst Jude’s strong denunciation of the false teachers and his pointing out their erroneous beliefs, he ends with one of the most compelling doxologies written in Scripture.

Who was Jude? Scholars are generally agreed that he is the half-brother of Jesus. He states that he is “the brother of James and servant of Jesus.” It is a general epistle addressed “to those who are called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ.” That includes us!

It is generally held that this epistle was to a “second generation” of Christians. Although the date of writing is not specifically known, it probably was composed after AD 60 and before AD 100. Heresy had crept into beliefs and caused many to be arrogant in theology, to boast of visions and revelations, to defile the flesh, to grumble, to be malcontents, to follow their own desires, to boast, to show and seek favoritism, and try to gain advantage. Many were the sins brought on by false theology and sinful practice. Does this not sound like today?

But with Jude’s reprimand also came a way of restoration. He taught them clearly about the trouble spots to avoid and doctrines to shun. Then he encouraged them to grow in the faith, pray in the Spirit, live in God’s love, look forward to the second coming of Jesus, and minister to believers who doubt and err. What good advice for those who are strong who want to sincerely pray for and help those who are weaker and erring in the faith. Jude advised that such tender, loving care for erring fellow Christians is like “snatching them from the fire” (vv. 22-23).

Look at the beautiful doxology. It is as if Jude were saying, “Now that we have these problems uncovered and remedies for them, we can move on to the most important task we have: that of glorifying God!” The doxology states what Jesus can do and what we should do. Jesus can keep us from stumbling; no falling, floundering or lack of steadfastness with Him. He is able to take us into the very presence of the Lord. And this restored fellowship will allow us to give glory, majesty, dominion and authority to the Lord God “before all time, now and forever.” A friend of mine ends his notes and letters with a reference to Jude 24 and 25. It would be well for each of us to commit these verses to memory so that they can be a constant reminder of what Jesus is doing on our behalf and how we can praise and glorify God.

Read again the majestic doxology penned by Jude. May we make it a part of our meditation and adoration when we truly want to commune with God.

God, Our Rock

“May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, like gentle rain upon the tender grass, and like showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord, ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, His works is perfect, for all His ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity.” –Deuteronomy 32:2-4 (ESV). “There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides You, there is no rock like our God.” –I Samuel 2:2 (ESV). “Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.” –Psalm 61:1-3 (ESV).

In the scripture verses selected for our consideration today on the theme of “God, Our Rock,” we hear the heartfelt expression of three songs lifted in praise and adoration to God. From Deuteronomy is the noble song of Moses lauding God for choosing Israel and leading the host of people to freedom into a promised land. In I Samuel 2:2, is a part of Hannah’s song of praise. She had reason to rejoice in God the Rock. Her prayer for a son had been answered and out of her barren estate came the child Samuel, a gift from the Lord. The song of David in Psalm 61 is not the only expression of God as Rock in the Psalms, but this particular song is a powerful prayer that all of us should earnestly pray: “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Ps. 61:3).

Rock, a frequent name for Jehovah God, expresses His absolute and steadfast faithfulness. David referred to God the Rock on several occasions. Psalm 18: 1-3 is another strong testimony: “I love you, O Lord my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock in Whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.”

In seeking to ascribe attributes to God, the writers of both the Old and New Testaments used Rock as a metaphor for God. A Rock is laid in Zion that becomes the foundation of hope and is a prophecy of the Messiah: “Therefore, thus says the Lord God, 'Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. Whoever believes will not be in haste.’” (Isaiah 28:16. ESV). “The stone which the builders have rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22, ESV). “And He shall bring forth the top stone amid shouts of 'grace, grace to it!’ (Zechariah 3:7b, ESV). Old Testament writers looked forward to the fulfillment of prophecy when Christ would establish His kingdom, an everlasting kingdom. We live on the side of fulfilled prophecy after this promise of the true Rock came to pass in Jesus Christ. Thank God that the Stone of whom Peter wrote is fulfilled: “For it stands in Scripture: Behold I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” (I Peter 2:6, ESV). How majestically did Augustus M. Toplady (1740-1778) express the truth: “My God is the rock of my refuge" from Psalm 94:22 in the words of his beloved hymn:

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood, From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure, Save from wrath and make me pure.”

Thank God! In life and in death we are safe in the “Rock of Ages”!

The Rock upon Which the Church Is Built

“He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’”-Matthew 16:15-18 (ESV).

As I select this scripture for our study and meditation today, I realize that it is a controversial passage. Is the rock upon which Christ promised to build His church Peter himself, the outspoken, impetuous disciple who became a leader in the early church, persecuted and martyred for the faith? Or is the church Christ promised to build—and, indeed, did establish and build—based upon all the faithful disciples/apostles who shouldered their share of the task of telling abroad the new faith that Jesus Christ instituted with His coming to earth, with His sacrificial death for mankind’s sin, in His resurrection from the dead, for His ascension back to the Father, and for His eventual Second Coming to receive the church unto Himself?

Or when Jesus responded to Peter’s confession was He referring to what Peter said, his confession of faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? Was this the petra, the Rock, upon which Christ would build His church—not on Peter the apostle, whose Greek name likewise means rock?

I remember a Greek class at Mercer University in 1951 with Dr. Johnston as our beloved professor. We had advanced enough in the class after several quarters of study to be able to read (although haltingly) from the Greek New Testament. We were in this very passage I’ve cited for today’s devotional. There followed discussion from students in the class of whether “rock” on which Christ would build His church was Peter or Peter’s confession. With his expertise in the language and with the firmness of his orthodox beliefs, Dr. Johnston led us to see that “this rock” referred back not to Peter himself but to what Peter had said so firmly and unequivocally: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” That confession was then the cornerstone of belief upon which the church of the Lord Jesus Christ would be built. Peter and the other disciples were necessary in preaching and teaching the Word of the new faith that would grow and spread throughout the world. But the church was Christ’s own institution, and the cornerstone was in the confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Have you ever experienced an epiphany—a sudden manifestation of insight? That day in that Greek class, this passage of Scripture took on a new and glorious meaning. I understood much more deeply what was the Lord Christ’s church, built up of those, who like Peter, confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Many years later, Dr. Chris Church states and confirms in his commentary: “Peter’s God-revealed confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, is the foundation of the church which lays siege to the gates of Hades” (Holman Bible Dictionary, 1991, p. 1200).

Take time now to repeat reverently this foundation stone of our faith (and maybe you will like to use the familiar King James Version): “Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Samuel J. Stone (1839-1900) captured the essence of the confession in the beloved hymn: “The church’s one foundation Is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is His new creation, By Spirit and the Word; From heav’n He came and sought her To be His holy bride, With His own blood He bought her, And for her life He died.”

Walk Worthy of Your Calling

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is over all, and through all, and in all.” –Ephesians 4:1-6 (ESV).

John the Baptist as he preached in the wilderness prior to his introduction of the Lord Jesus Christ preached of bringing forth “fruits worthy of repentance.” Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus (Ephesians 4:1-6), at Colosse (see Colossians 1:10) and at Thessalonica (see 2 Thessalonians 2:12) to walk worthily of the calling of a Christian. And have we not aspired to the words of the hymn: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love; yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

We often refer to manner of life as a person’s “walk.” In 1 John 2:6 we are admonished to walk as Jesus walked: “Whoever says he abies in Him ought to walk in the same wasy as He walked.” Now that is indeed a worthy goal—one that is nigh impossible to achieve in this life. But we do have a worthy pattern, and our aim should daily be to walk in a way that emulates Christ. Many of our Christian youth wear a bracelet with the initials WWJD, a reminder to them to ask (and seek to find) “What would Jesus do?” In calling Christians to walk worthy of their calling, Paul lists some of the characteristics we know as fruit of the Spirit: humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, love. And within the fellowship of believers we will seek to maintain unity. Where discord enters, confusion abounds. Neither of these is a characteristic of a spirit of unity.

Paul ends this teaching of walking worthy of our calling by giving some strong doctrine: “one Lord,, one faith, one baptism, on God and Father of all.” The Christian comes to this walk through grace, the unmerited favor of God. Once that relationship is established, we then have a responsibility to “walk worthy” of our calling. Today is a good day to examine our walk with the Lord. Is He beside me as I go, within me as I make decisions, a constant companion in the every-dayness of my life? Do I talk to Him as an available friend and counselor? Do I study the word consistently and apply its truths to my life? Does my relationship with Him permeate all I do? Do I ask, “What would Jesus do?”

Practical Advice for Christians

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” –Hebrews 10:22-25 (ESV).

These verses on living out the Christian faith are set within the discussion of the former priestly way of offering sacrifices for sin. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that “once for all” Christ offered the supreme sacrifice for sin (See Hebrews 10:10). We know assuredly that we do not have to provide sacrifice for our sins because of the loving gift of our Lord and Savior. He has made a way for us to “enter the holy place.” We can enter boldly into the presence of God. The Holy Spirit bears witness of these eternal truths to us: “And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds;’ then He says, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’” (Hebrews 10:15-17).

After assuring us that we indeed are in position, through Christ’s sacrifice, to approach God, the writer of Hebrews then gives practical advice (or exhortations) for Christians. It might be well for us to look at these as a Christian’s “to do” list:

(1) Draw near. In this drawing near to God for worship, we come in confession, with hearts ‘sprinkled clean,’ and our consciences cleared before God.

(2) Hold fast. This indicates that we should not allow doubts to weaken our faith. My pastor from my early years as a Christian, Rev. Claude Boynton, used to admonish us, “Know what you believe and why you believe it.” “He who promised is faithful.” We don’t have to doubt that what Jesus tells us is true; He is faithful and He is our anchor. Therefore, “hold fast.”

(3) Stir up each other. We have a responsibility to each other in the Christian fellowship. Stimulating each other to love and good works is seeing beyond ourselves and our immediate needs. In our church we have an intercessory prayer ministry that keeps us informed of prayer concerns. We have monthly missions emphases that stimulate us to reach out to others who need our helping hands. Stimulating each other in the faith also includes instruction in and proclamation of the Word. How we need these and how important they are to a Christian’s spiritual growth and development.

(4) Assemble together. We have the local church congregation for many reasons but a very important one is for providing a place for Christians to assemble and worship the Lord together. It is also a place where we encourage one another. Gathering for worship, prayer, instruction and fellowship becomes even more important as “the Day” draws near.

As we anticipate the Day of His Second Coming and as signs of His coming accelerate, how very important become these four exhortations to Christians. May we be faithful in drawing near to Him, holding fast to our faith, stirring up or stimulating each other to love and good works, and assembling together for worship. With heart humble before God, I seek now to evaluate how I measure up on these practical ways to live out my Christian life.

Seek Holiness

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” –I Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV). “I appeal to you therefore brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by resisting you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” –Romans 12:1-2 (ESV).

Holiness is defined in Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of the Old and New Testament (2006, p. 337) as “the essential nature of that which belongs to the sphere of the sacred and is distinct from the common or profane.” In Leviticus 10:10 this strong admonition was given to the people of God: “You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean.” Ever it has been that humankind has had difficulty distinguishing between the holy and the common, the sacred and the profane. In Ezekiel we read about the priests who “do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths; so that I am profanced among them.” A system of ritual holiness with much washing and cleansing in certain ways was established in an effort to approach the worship of Almighty God in holiness. Jesus denounced such outward show of holiness: “You make clean the outside...and within are full of extortion and excess.” (Matthew 23:24).

“So glorify God in your body” Paul wrote pleadingly in I Corinthians 6:19. Our spiritual worship demands holiness as we seek God. In most of our churches and in private and individual worship today, to approach God in holiness becomes an individual responsibility. We are beset by many temptations to be profane, worldly, unholy. At one time we might have been shocked at the scenes on television or even in real life that are far removed from the sacred and holy. But with exposure and conformity, we become “like the rest,” untroubled by the profane and unholy.

Therefore, it takes concentration, confession and effort on each individual’s part to come before holy God with “clean hands and a clean heart.” In Isaiah 6, when that great prophet of old encountered God, he saw God high and lifted up and himself as unclean and unworthy. If we can come to that position of non-conformity to the world and its sinfulness, we can begin to think of the majesty, glory and holiness of God. Paul spoke of this deliberate action on our part as “renewal of mind” (Romans 12:2).

“Where, except in the present, can the Eternal be met?” the great apologist C. S. Lewis asked.

We as children of God are given the sacred privilege of approaching Him in the present, of praying to Him here and now, of praising and adoring Him, morning, noon and night. May we learn to cast off the profane and come before Him with humility and awe of His majesty. Seeking our own holiness has no secret formula for success except as we recognize His holiness.

Our holiness is from God Himself. But recognition of our acceptance by Him and the image of God in which we are made is the beginning of our holiness and our desire to declare: “Holy, holy holy ! Lord God Almighty!” Thus are our mind and our spirit renewed and refreshed in Him.